The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-07-06
Horrible Fire in Pennsylvania.
by Telegraph to the Asheville Citizen.l

by Telegraph to the Asheville Citizen.l
PITTsBURG, July 5.-A special
from Erie, Pa, says: The town of
Clarendon, in the upper oil country
and on the Philadelphia & Erie
Railroad was almost wiped out by a
confiagration last night. Over one
hundred business houses and dwell
lings, including Weaver's hotel, Lo-
gan's hotel and the postofice were
consumed before one o'clock this
morning and the flames are still
spreading. The town had no fire
department and the people were
compelled to fight the flames with
buckets of water. The conhagra-
ton started at 11.30 o'clock last
night in WeaYer's hotel in the midi
die of the town, and in an old mill
on the outskirts. Itoriginated'fro
careless use of fire works, and reach
ing oil tanks the destruction of the
town was speedily wrought. John
Stewart was caught in the bursting
.Qka tank and was cremated. It is
feared many have shared similar
fate. All the business part of the
town is destroyed, and at one O'Clock
this. morning Henry;s hotel and the
Philadelphia & Erie Railroad depot
were burning. The buildings being
of pine and hemlock burned like
tinder. The greatest excitement
prevails The valley is full of fire
and seething oil, and the people be-
coming panic stricken fed to hill :
sides for safety. No estimate can
be put upon the loss, but there is
every reason to believe that it will
reach a half million dollars. There
is but little insurance.
Ex-Presfdent JEFF Davis on the GIOri-
Gus Fourth.
By telegraph to the AsheviIle Citizenl
New ORLEANS, July 5.-The Con-
tinental Guards of this city went on
a picnic to Beauvoir, Miss, yester-
dayand inIbody called on Mr.. Jeffer-
son Davis. Capt. browns made an
address. After referring to "the day
we celebrate. he said: II mention
the fact that ourmembership is COM
posed of wearers of the gray and the
blue to convey the idea that that all
past bitterness is buried. Again
thanking you on behalf of our mem.
bers and ladies accompanying us,
would add that it is our intention
to picnic in your neighborhood and
that we would:be pleased to have
yourself. and family join u.s." Mr..
Davis replied in words to the fol-
lowing effect: "This day is one
which is full of memories very dear
to US. Your uniform carries my
mind back to the time wi On our
fathers fought for great principles
set forth in the Declaration of fInde.
pendence. Equality of men and
right of the people to govern them.
selves: in other words for the prih.
ciple that all powers of, government
depend on the consent of the gov
erned. These principles our faith.
ers maintained. Yours is unis
form that carries US back to times
when our people made sacrifices o.
blood and treasure for q cause that
was dear to them. Ny father bore
arms in that war and my wif.t
grand father was also a soldier In
the revolution. Your uniform il
therefore dear to the hearts of boti
of us. We may not dwell upon thu
subject yet we cannot avoid rc-
mindi g you that the men of thil
generation through four years strifl
and sacrifice of blood and treasure
sought to maintain the great pr1n
ciples OF the Declaration OF Indc-
/ pendence and of the Constitution o
| the United States. As your Captain
has Justly said those things belong
to the past. / do not seek to reviv
them beyond pointing out that yol
fought for right and let your chill
dren remember that their father
were neither rebels nor traitors. Il
4 conc lusion Mr.. Davis thanked tn
Continentals for their visit and re
marked that Mrs. Davis, although
unWell, had risen from her cou h t
receive them, and show her appre
citation of the htnor rendered. Th
Continentals aud guests, afte
spending apleasant day at Beauvoi
returned to this city